Serious discussion time. I don't at all know where to look for information like this, so I'm posting here and on the Flying Spaghetti Monster forum because both forums are full of reasonable people who mostly seem to like me.

I have lived in Massachusetts, USA, for my entire life. Not once have I had a permanent residence father than 26 miles from my childhood home. Every time someone asks, I say I don't want to live anywhere but Massachusetts, because it has the best mental health system in the country and is also probably the most liberal. I say I love the USA and Massachusetts is my home because I can't go anywhere else and be safe. But I'm suddenly tiring of the USA.

There's a lot of nationalism disguised as a patriotism in this country, and if I say "I don't like this place," I risk being abused by everyone around me. It's "wrong" and "giving up" and "shameful" to say I don't like this country, and therefore I love this country. It's "abandoning the land that raised you" and "the land that fought for your freedom" so instead of feeling neglected, I act loyal. There's nowhere in the world better than here, so not only is it a waste of time but it's ignorant to look elsewhere and it's wrong to try. But that's like Stockholm syndrome, except the abuser is a country instead of one person. Isn't it?

I don't want to harp too much on what's wrong with America. There's a lot I adore about it but I'm afraid it's not meeting my needs and I really would love to know if there's somewhere better. And this is an international, largely-intelligent forum, so I'm hoping I can at least get a starting point regarding both location and feasibility.

Things I MUST have:

-Strong mental health care and dignity for the mentally ill

-Strong health care in general (especially if it's free)-Not being forced to live in poverty just because I happened to only be able to prove I was too disabled to work after age 22 (if not this then I may as well stay in Massachusetts)-Strong laws against anti-LGBTQ/anti-atheist/anti-mental-illness discrimination and abuse

-Sociopolitical climate at least as liberal as Massachusetts

Things I would really like but which I may be able to flex on:

-Large English-speaking population (I tried learning Italian and Spanish once but neither of them stuck, could have been the American public school-style education hindering me though)-Good treatment of animals (absolutely won't live in a whaling country, but things like better farm practices and such are just a plus)

-Good public transportation system (I can live near or in a city if I need to although I'm definitely a suburbs guy at heart)

And this would be a bonus:

-Legal allowance for, upon my death, my salvageable organs to be donated to others in need, my skull and jaw to be removed and painted whimsically and sold at charity auction to a museum, and the remainder of my body to be fed through a wood chipper and fed to a sapling (I was recently told the second and third are illegal here)

So that's what I'd like in a place to live. The other issue is, would I be able to find a place there, get to that place, and stay there sustainably? That's also important obviously.

I hate saying I don't want to live in America. I have an American flag on my hat and on my website. But damn, I'm living on $850/mo in a privately-subsidized house for nine people, and if the country swings right again, even that could all get taken away and I could be homeless and without healthcare. That scares me. I didn't choose to be sick. I had dreams of having a job and owning a home and being respected as a valuable member of society. I didn't want all that taken away from me and if I could have it back I'd take it in a heartbeat, but it's becoming clear that even the Certified Peer Specialist position will be too much for me. I teach two classes per week and I feel drained and frustrated doing it. I can't imagine doing three times that every week without the ability to say I can't handle it and not get fired. Is it my fault? I hear hallucinatory voices telling me to do childish things or say rude things that sometimes talk so loud they drown out my thoughts. I've been manic for almost a solid month. I alternate between being so happy that even really bad ideas feel like good ones and my smile is hurting my face and I want to cry and be sad just to relieve the pressure but I can't, and being so anxious and restless it feels like my heart and stomach are having a fight to the death, and I never know what I'll be from day to day or sometimes even hour to hour.

I didn't ask for it. No reasonable person would ask for it. I want to live somewhere where that's understood, and I want to feel safe and secure that my life won't be destroyed at the behest of Donald Trump. Is that so much to ask?

Just going from what I know, the UK fits the bill pretty well. English speaking (except in deepest darkest Wales and parts of the Hebrides).Free health care that have put me back together a few times but I'm not sure about mental health care and I've been told you can expect a fairly long waiting time if it's not anything urgent (ie. you won't die from it in six months). Having said that with various elective surgeries I've had holes poked in me within 6 weeks.Public transport depends on where you live but is generally pretty good but expensive if you don't book in advance for distance journeys (I managed to get around from Surrey to Welsh villages pretty well). Political climate would very much depend on which bit you choose, where I live you could put a rubber-faced melting Spitting Image puppet up for election and it would win repeatedly (exhibit A: Michael Gove) but there are parts of the North that would vote for a baboon wearing a Labour rosette. Having said that, most people are tolerant and politics is generally considered something 'not talked about' until the drink has been flowing. Speaking of which, you may need to get used to a lot of social events being based around a pub or boozing at someone's house.

Despite all the faults and moaning, I am proud to say I live in the UK

Having just written all that, it sounds to me like moving would create a huge amount of hassle, stress and cost for not much gain. I may not have been much use

Too old to give up but too young to rest - Pete Townshend

I would rather be a rising ape than a falling angel - Sir Terry Pratchett

Well, I can't fault you for not wanting to live in the USA, because I wouldn't want to live there either.

You say you get US$850 p.m.

How does that compare to the cost of living? I know someone here on disability - he gets about the same as you, and he shares a tiny flat with his brother. The rent alone takes about half his income.

I would say that you are definitely better off over there than you would be here in Ireland, assuming that you would be able to get a visa. The freedom to live anywhere in Europe only applies to nationals of member states, sadly.

Generally, it sucks the way countries treat their citizens who are disabled in any way.

I pay about $250/mo in rent, but only because of the charity subsidy. I share a house with seven (soon 8) people. If you want to rent a studio apartment without the charity subsidy, it runs around $1000 for a crappy one in a crime-ridden neighborhood.

My sister pays $760ish/mo for rent. She got really, really lucky. "Really really lucky" includes living in a semi-finished basement with no parking and drug dealers upstairs. She is not disabled.

A large English-speaking population pretty much narrows it down to Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Although I think that in the Netherlands and the Nordic countries you can function relatively well speaking solely English.

Hi ADOS , sorry for the delay , where i am at the moment suits most of your needs . I cannot give much info about the strength of number one though , i have little exposure or experience in that area unfortunately .

I must stress though that your requirements might only be fullfilled if you rented from me .

I live in a well managed condo with an expansive view , an unused parking spot , small pool , billiard room, party room , we have group outings to casinos once or twice a year . Walking distance to most amenities , shopping areas are close , bus service on the main line gets you to a tube station in five minutes which gets you to all the tourist type action in twenty minutes but very crowded in the rush periods .The secondary bus line gets to the tube in ten minutes or so but always gets you a seat .We have all the big league sports teams and artsy venues .Big parks in walking distance , free tickets to zoo , science center , museums can be had at the local library . Hidden gems of ethic greasy spoons abound at outrageously low prices .

However , all three rooms are filled at the moment , and i havent the heart to evict my old friend who happens to be threatening my life with his suicidal drinking .Everyone says to kick him out so he hit abSOULute bottom , but i am so torn .His parents were like my surrogates ( thank the gods they are not alive to witness his fall into the abyss).If i could convince a room shuffle with the other functioning but equally outrageous drunk i could fit both you Ashley into the master room comfortably , it has a separate bath , walk in closet that could be a small windowless office .The bedroom can fit a queen or king with room for tv ,couch , small table and possibly another chair and desk ( getting crowded by now though ). From that room you may spot the hawk family that lives and hunts amongst the taller buildings ( about 20 stories high ).The neighbourhood is highly cosmopolitan , but english is dominant .All the owners and renters are friendly , most of the kids are respectfull , well behaved and well parented.I get along with almost anyone given that they are civil and considerate .I can move into the solarium until i resolve the Havelock thee Sodden issue .However , i am assured you realize , you never know peeps until you live with them . Can you tolerate the anctics of three incorrigible pirate types and a rambunctious ships baby cat ?Two more tenants violates one of insurance policies in case of fire , so some claims will be void ( god forbid).If would like visit for a peek a boo , you would be welcome as my guest for a week or two .You just have to get up here . If anything i could feed you guys and entertain quite reasonably within my limited budget ( the illness has emptied my accounts ) both houses sold , no longer a paper millionare but i am ajusting okay.I quit FB since my vision issues make it prudent to avoid over exposure to screens so you will have to respond via pm or whatever.

I appreciate the offer, Mad Will, but I was acutely psychotic when I started this thread and was hoping it would time out and disappear off the bottom of the forum. :/

I'm living comfortably in a house for the mentally ill right now, and am actively pursuing a career in the arts which, if I'm lucky, will enable me to find housing of my own. I have a whole lot of support here. Also, Ashley ditched my sorry ass a year and a half ago. :P

Almighty Doer of Stuff wrote:I appreciate the offer, Mad Will, but I was acutely psychotic when I started this thread and was hoping it would time out and disappear off the bottom of the forum. :/

I'm living comfortably in a house for the mentally ill right now, and am actively pursuing a career in the arts which, if I'm lucky, will enable me to find housing of my own. I have a whole lot of support here. Also, Ashley ditched my sorry ass a year and a half ago. :P

Oh shit , sorry about Ash , happy for your current stability , if you want to holiday up here on the cheap , the invitation is open . I must repeat that my roomies are notorious on the street with dubious cred .But they crack me up constantly as well as drive me bonkers the rest of the time .Also ship's cat is nicknamed " the terrorist " for good reasons .

The thread almost made it to the bottom, then Erik brought it back to the top for no good reason for ducks sake .I was waiting for it to reach bottom and then i was going to bump it out with a new rant or something .Oh well , maybe the staff will can axe this thread .

I miss the honest trolls we used to get , they were a lot of fun , but Airhead and all his incarnations are becoming a wee bit tiresome , althoughhe and all his puppets have brought back some members to jaw for a spell .Nice to see yawl .